Where can I get blocks (units, tens, hundreds etc) like these?

[MrsFogi]

When I was in primary school I was taught units, tens, hundreds etc using plastic blocks (individual ones, blocks of 10 individuals stuck together, 100 etc). I still remember it very clearly as I used to love just playing with them. Does anyone know where I could find these to buy. I know that there are Montessori beads but I'd prefer square plastic blocks.

here

But they aren't cheap!

Cuisenaire rods are very good too.

I thought of Cuisenaire rods too!

Thank you Tinuviel and EcoLady - could one of you enlighten me about Cuisenaire rods? Do they work in the same way?

I got foam ones from www.schoolsurplus.co.uk/ and they were cheap. I only bought them as I was getting some art stuff for dd and they were going really cheap. Dunno if htey are still doing them

a number grid 10 by 10 with numbers 1 to 100 in rows 1 to 10 at top so on can be cheaper alternative.

I'm currently going to a wonderful class run by my DS school for 4 weeks, designed to show parents how numeracy is being taught in schools now. We covered this very topic last week!

If you take very thin straws and cut them into half or thirds, you can then bind them together in groups of 10's and 100's. It is then very easy for the child to see that 10 can be made up from units or broken down so it can be used to show adding, subtraction etc. I didn't have straws so used cocktail sticks.

I can't wait for tomorrow - part 2!